Closed shoe tree



Nov. 3, 1931. G. CLAUSING 1,830,016

CLOSED SHOE TREE Filed Jan. 11, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jmnwiou Nov. 3, 1931. G. CLAUSING CLOSED SHOE TREE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' Filed Jan. 11. 1950 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE OLAUSING,

or PORTSMOUTH, OH O, ASSIGNOR. T vULOAN CORPCRATION; or PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO CLOSED SHOE TREE Application filed January 11, 1930. Serial No. 420,050.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe trees. i It is an object of this invention to provide a shoe tree having both lateral and longitudinal expansion,and that is simple and inexpensive in construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoe tree composed essentially of two members, a toe member and a heel member, and so constructed that the shoe tree as a whole may be adapted for use in connection with different sized shoes, three of these trees being sufficient for all the various sizes" of mens shoes and three being sufficient for all the various sizes of womens shoes.

.The two parts of this shoe tree are made preferably of basswood, which is soft and light and more readily absorbs moisture than other woods.

It is particularly the objectof this invention to provide a shoe tree of which the toe member is composed of two parts hinged together in spaced relation, with the toes thereof normally in Contact with each other but capable of expansion.

The heel member is also pivotally connected to the toe member so that when the shoe tree is placed within a. shoe the connection between the two members tends to force each into its appropriate part of the shoe. The heel member is also provided with a hook means by which the heel member may be readily removed from the heel of the shoe and with it the toe member.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the shoe tree.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the toe or front member and part of the heel member.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the toe member with the toe parts in expand-ed position.

This shoe tree is composed essentially of two members, a toe member composed of two sections, and a heel member in one piece. ne of the sections of the toe member is indicated by the numeral 1, while the other section is indicated b tions constituting the toe member are shaped to fit the interior of the front part of a shoe for the purpose of expandingor stretching it.

In the front part of section 1 there is a slit 3, while in the front part of section 2 there is a like slit 1. In the rear of parts of these slits there are pivoted the ends of a link 5 by means of a pin 6. These parts are so pivotedon the link 5 that they are held normally in spaced relation to each other. The space is indicated by the numeral 7.

In the front partsof these slits are wedge members 8. These wedge members entirely fill the slit in front of the part occupied by the link 5, merely leaving enough space hetween the link and the back walls of the wedges to permit the swinging or movement of the sections about the pivot pin 6. To the rear of the link 5 there is provided in each of the sections a hole or socket 9. These sockets are in line with each other and receive a spring for the purpose of holding the rear ends of the sections apart, with the toes thereof in contact with each other. The rear parts of the sections are cut out adjacent the space 7 to provide a large space 11.

To the rear. end of the section 2 there is attached apin 12. In the present instance this pin extends partly through a hole pro-- vided in the rear end of this section, and is frietionally held in this hole. The other end of the pin extends into a hole 13 formed in the rear end of the section 1. Upon this pin is pivotally mounted a heel member 14. The member 14 is mounted upon the pin 12 by means of a long slot 15. The purpose of this slot is to allow longitudinal movement of the heel member '14 so that the whole length of the shoe tree may be adjusted by compressing a spring 16 located within a longitudinal hole 17 in the inner end of the heel member 14:. This spring tends to keep the pin 12 seated in the front end of the slot so that the shoe tree as a whole is in its most extended position.

The end of the heel member, away from the slot, is rounded-as indicated by the numeral 18, and adaptedto fit the heel part of the shoe. In the formation of the rounded part 18 the numeral 2. These secmember from the shoe and with it the toe member.

While it is preferable to make this shoe tree of basswood it may be made of any other suitable wood, or any other suitable mate'- rial.

The object of having the front of the toe part of the sections in contact with each other and held in that position by means of the spring 10 is that after the shoe tree is placed in a shoe, or in the act of placing it in a shoe, the parts of the shoe may contact with the rear or ball parts of the sections to force the ball parts toward each other and thereby open the toe parts of the sections. By having the toe part of the tree restricted the insertion of the tree into a shoe may be more easily efiected, and after it has partly entered into a shoe the toe may be expanded as above described. When the tree is thus placed within a shoe and the curved part 18 against the heel with the member 14 in line with the sections 1 and 2, the parts are thus held together, the spring 16 tending to hold each part in contact with the part of the shoe for which it is particularly adapted.

By means of the spring the tree is adapted to shoes of various lengths, and by means of the pivotal relation between the sections of the toe member different widths of shoes may be accommodated.

I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as maybe clearly embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shoe tree composed of two side sections having slots extending in from the toe ends thereof, and pivotally united and held in spaced relation to each other by link located in the rear part of said slots and strengthened by wedge members in the front part of said slots.

2. In a shoe tree, a pair of side sections having slots extending in from the toe ends thereof, a link having an end in each slot adjacent the wall thereof and pivoted thereto, and a strengthening wedge member in each slot.

3. In a shoe tree, apair of side members having slots extending in from the toe ends thereof, a strengthening wedge in each slot, a link having an end in each slot adjacent the wall thereof and pivoted to a side section to hold said side sections in spaced relation to each other, each section having a. transverse hold to the rear of said link, and a spring in said holes tending to hold the toe parts of said sections in contact with each other but permitting the spreading of the toe parts by pressure on the rear parts of said sections.

4. In a shoe tree, a pair of side sections having slots extending in from the toe ends thereof, a strengthening wedge in each slot, a link having an end in each slot adjacent the wall thereof and pivoted to a side section to hold said side sections in spaced relation to each other, each section having a transverse hole to the rear of said link, a spring in said holes to spread the rear part of said sections and bring the toe ends together, a pin attached to the rear of one of said sections and extending slidably into a hole in the rear of the other section, aheel member rounded at one end to fit the heel part of a shoe and to provide a finger hold and at the other end slotted to receive said pin and longitudinally bored to provide a housing and seat for a spring and a spring in said bore with one end. in said seat and the other end against said pin in said hole whereby the whole assembly may be longitudinally adjusted to shoes of different lengths.

In a shoe tree, a bifurcated toe member composed of sections having slits therein extending in from the front of the toe, a link pivoted at each end in a slit, wedges in said slits, a spring between said sections tending to hold said sections in one position, a cross pin fixed to one section and slidable in the other section, and heel member having a slot in one end to receive said pin pivotally and slidably mounted on said pin, said heel member having a spring therein tending to hold said pin in the outer end of said slot, the other end of said heel member being formed and curved to fit the heel of a shoe and also hooked to form a finger hold by which the tree can be inserted into and re moved from a shoe.

In testimony whereof, I affiX my signature.

GEORGE CLAUSING.

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